Here is a quick video about Mount Pleasant’s Old Village. No longer a sleepy seaside fishing village, the area boasts a state of the art new (2009) elementary school, where almost everyone can walk or ride a bike. There are also great shops, friendly neighbors, and restaurants galore. Buy your shrimp fresh off the docks or stroll in the parks.

Just north of the Isle of Palms, Dewees Island offers pristine private beaches, great fishing and birding, and the chance to enjoy nature in a family friendly atmosphere.

Simplistate rents several houses on the island.  Here’s a great video about one them…

Home 55 from Reggie Fairchild on Vimeo.

Before: This kitchen needed to be staged.

As promised, here are some tips on specific rooms to help you if you are selling your home.

The Kitchen

*  Declutter – Remove all items from your  kitchen countertops so you can start with a clean slate.  Remove papers and magnets from your fridge.

* Clean, Clean, Clean – Don’t forget the oven and the refridgerator (the inside and on top).  Buyers may open both.  Clean the baseboards and under the front edge of the appliances.  Buy a toothbrush and clean around the faucet with soap and water.  Finish everything up with Windex for a clean shine.  Dry out your sink before showings.

*Add items – Carefully place just a few items on the countertops, such as a coffee maker (clean it first) and maybe a knife block.  Add a bowl of  fresh fruit on the countertop.  Lemons are inexpensive and last a while.  Apples work well also.

*Buy neutral towels, (chocolate, black, taupe or tan).  Red also works well if you have that color throughout the home.  Go with the colors in your decor throughout the home.

*Buy a new kitchen rug to really add some warmth.  Buy bigger than you think you would normally buy.  I have seen many people put a little 2 X 3 rug in a kitchen and it looks too small.  Most Kitchens can handle a 3 X 5 or 4 X 6 rug.  Don’t be afraid to pull a small hand knotted (oriental type) rug into the kitchen if you already have one.  Add a plant or two.  Real is best, but if you don’t tend to water them, go with artificial.

*Add a cookbook on a stand.  Some coffee cups work great on a tray by the coffee maker.  These things help buyers envision themselves in your home.

Remember, when staging a kitchen please keep it simple.  Don’t add too much clutter for the sake of decorating.  Less is better in a kitchen.

After staging...clutter free with a pop of color.

If you have any questions, email me at cynthia@simplistate.com.   As always, if you list your home with  me, I will professionally stage it for FREE.

Home staging is very beneficial no matter when it is done, but here are some things to think about:

The best time to stage:

The best time to stage is before your home goes on the market.  Remember that the first 30 days on the MLS are extremely important and good photos can make the difference as to whether or not a buyer will make an appointment to see your home.  Many people say, “I will just wait and THEN if it does not sell, I will get it staged.”    Think of all of the houses that are your competition on the market and the attraction of  new construction and then decide if it is really worth it to lose even one potential buyer because your home is not prepared.

Staging is a small investment:

Home staging is a small investment towards higher earnings at the closing table.  Unprepared homes give buyers a “discount” mentality and they will expect a deal.  Conversely, a well prepared home creates a desire to buy the home without a focus on getting a reduced price if it is priced right to start with.  Staging was never meant to be a substitute for pricing your house right.  Always remember that Pricing + Staging = Success.

Considering the cost:

If cost is a factor, at the very least have a stager come out and do a short written report.  This can cost as little as $200.00 if you don’t mind doing the work yourself.  Having an occupied home staged is so reasonable, sometimes as little as $500.00, that the benefits far outweigh the small investment.

The second best time to stage:

If your home is already on the market, the second best time to stage, is as soon as possible.  There are many success stories of houses that were on the market with no activity that sold quickly after staging.  Are you getting plenty of showings with no offers even though your home is priced right?   If so, it is time to take action before taking initial or further price reductions.  When staging a home already on the market, be sure to have your agent retake the photos to make the listing “fresh” again.

The bottom line is that the best time to stage a home is….anytime.  Home Staging Works.

Please email me at cynthia@simplistate.com if you have any questions.

We’re taking a close look at some of the great communities in the Charleston area. Here’s a video about Sullivan’s Island. It’s a great place to live or have a vacation home.